Best GST billing software for small shops in India

For a shop, billing software has to be faster than a bill book. If it slows the counter down, staff will go back to paper within a week. The good news: GST billing software for a small shop now costs less than a few hundred rupees a month, and several have free plans.

Starting prices are monthly equivalents in rupees, before GST. Open a tool for plan details and the date we last checked.

Prices are collected from public sources such as vendors' websites. They are not offers from Software Today. Please confirm the current price with the vendor before you buy.

What matters at the counter

• Speed. Billing by barcode scan or a few keystrokes.
• Your printer. Check that it prints on your thermal or A4 printer before you pay.
• Offline billing. The internet will drop on your busiest day.
• Stock that updates itself. Every bill should reduce stock without a second entry.
• UPI on the bill. A QR code on the bill gets you paid faster.
• GST reports. Your accountant should be able to take the sales and purchase reports as they are, ready for GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B.

GST rules a small shop should know in 2026

• HSN codes. Bills must carry the right HSN code for each item. Good software lets you set it once per item, and some now check it for you.
• E-invoicing is required only if your yearly turnover is above ₹5 crore. Above ₹10 crore, invoices must be reported within 30 days. Most small shops do not need e-invoicing, but if you are growing, pick software that supports it.
• E-way bills are needed for most goods moved worth more than ₹50,000 between states (state limits vary for movement within a state). Software that creates them from the bill saves a trip to the portal.
• Rate changes. When GST rates change, your software should update items in one go, not one by one.

Phone or computer?

A phone app is enough for a small shop or a trader who bills on the move. A counter with a queue needs a computer, a scanner and a printer. Several apps work on both, but the cheapest plans are often phone-only and single-user. Check before you buy.

Credit customers

If you sell on credit, look closely at how the tool shows who owes what, and whether it can send payment reminders on WhatsApp.

Questions buyers ask

Is free GST billing software good enough? For a single counter with simple stock, often yes. Paid plans add more users, a desktop app, barcode stock and reports.

Can my accountant use it? Ask for a demo of the GST reports and an export to Excel or Tally. That is what your accountant will use.